The Moroccan National Theater will begin Tuesday in collaboration with the Moroccan Cinema Center celebrating the resistance films week during the period between January 8-10 in the Moroccan city of Rabat, according to the Qatari daily al Rayah.

The week will mark the 58th anniversary of January 11, 1944 on which a number of Moroccan patriots headed by the late king Mohammed V signed a document demanding independence of the occupying French authorities at that time.

A statement released by King Mohammed V Theater pointed out that the objective behind organizing this week, which includes screening of films reviving the 58th anniversary of the document, is to familiarize the public with the Moroccan innovated films. These include lengthy and documentary films, which highlight their makers’ art and cinema outlook regarding this eternal national epic.

The program will include screening the films al Muqawem al Majhoul (Unknown Resistant) scripted and directed by al Arabi Banati, Fursan al Majd (Knights of Glory) scripted and directed by Suheil Bin Barakah, Atash (Thirst) scripted and directed by Saad al Sharaibi and Aushtam scripted and directed by Mohammed Ismael. These films will be preceded by screening the documentary film Yawmiyyat Maghribiyyah (Moroccan Diaries) produced in 1954.

However, the film Atash faced a bitter criticism by the Egyptian audience two years ago when it was screened at Alexandria Film Festival. They argue that the film - and other Moroccan films which tackled the national movements during the French and Spanish occupation – refers, in one way or another, to the occupation as a contributor to the Moroccan progress -- Albawaba.com